Drumheller town council passed its 2023 Property Taxation bylaw, which saw the mill rate on residential properties decrease slightly over the previous year, during the regular Monday, May 1 council meeting.
While the mill rate is down slightly, some residents may still see an increase on their municipal tax bill due to assessment value increases over the last year.
To determine property assessment value, Wild Rose Assessment Services Inc. looks at the market value on similar properties annually on July 1; a second assessment date takes into consideration the physical condition of the property as of December 31 of every year.
Assessment values on residential properties increased by about five per cent over the previous year, approximately $33.1 million. This was mostly due to increases in property market value.
Non-residential properties also saw assessment increases of about 2.4 per cent, or approximately $5.5 million. Similar to residential property assessments, this was mostly due to market value increases.
Due to subdivision of lots at Raptor Ridge RV Resort, the number of taxable residential assessment rolls increased by 134. Tax exempt properties also increased by a total of 21, which is mostly due to properties purchased under the Town’s flood mitigation program.
Council approved the combined residential mill rate, which is calculated as the tax payable amount per dollar of the assessed property value, of 11.86862; this is down slightly from the 2022 mill rate of 12.10984. The combined non-residential mill rate is up slightly, from 19.15279 in 2022 to 19.41480.
The combined mill rate includes requisitions from the province for the Alberta School Foundation Fund (ASFF), and Drumheller and District Seniors Foundation (DDSF). While 2023 requisitions are down for both ASFF and DDSF, the amount being levied is up slightly as the amount collected in 2022 was insufficient to cover the requisition based on assessment changes after taxes were levied in 2022.
Residential taxpayers with a property assessed at $171,000 will see a tax bill increase of approximately $82 in 2023, or $6.83 per month, while commercial taxpayers with an assessment of $511,000 will see an increase of about $666 in 2023, or about $55.50 per month.
Property tax and assessment notices will be mailed out later in May. The property tax payment deadline is August 31.
Although taxes cannot be appealed, assessments can be challenged through the Assessment Review Board.

Mrs. Andrea Holowka has accepted the position of Superintendent for Christ the Redeemer (CTR) Catholic Schools.
Mrs. Holowka began her teaching career in 1995 with Calgary Catholic. Following a successful career in teaching and several principalships, she served as Calgary Catholic’s Superintendent of Instructional Services and, later, Human Resources. After 26 years with Calgary Catholic, Mrs. Holowka assumed the position of Superintendent of School Improvement with the Calgary Board of Education, where she has served for the last two years.
Mrs. Holowka’s degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology, a Bachelor of Education, and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Calgary. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Western Ontario, with a dissertation focused on systemic approaches to school-based mental health interventions.
She served as President of the Council of Catholic Superintendents (CCSSA) and will assume the role of the President of the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) next year. Through her participation in, and leadership of, the CCSSA and CASS, Mrs. Holowka has led, presented at, and participated in formal and informal collaborative opportunities on topics including curriculum, instruction, student support, Indigenous education, inclusive education, student well-being, and mental health.
“I have worked alongside and in relationship with Christ the Redeemer for many years. Joining an organization that is committed to authentic Catholic permeation and faith formation is aligned with the core of who I am as a Catholic leader,” she said. “I look forward to working with senior administration, leaders, and staff to promote the division’s witness of faith, while continuing to support strong student excellence in safe and caring environments.”
Board Chair, Andrea Keenan, remarks, “The Board was most impressed with Mrs. Holowka’s dedication to faith and Catholic education. We were also impressed with her provincial reputation, her track record as a very senior leader in two metro school divisions, and her commitment to lifelong learning as evidenced by her pursuit of a doctoral degree.”
Mrs. Holowka looks forward to joining the division on May 29th and will assume the role of Superintendent on June 19th after Dr. Morrison’s official retirement.